Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) are circulating proteins that are expressed in various cells and tissues and are thought to be involved in the repair and remodeling of damaged tissues; however, ANGPTL2 hyperfunction has been shown to cause chronic inflammation, leading to the progression of various diseases. ANGPTL2 is known to exert cellular effects via receptors such as integrin α5β1 and leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 2 (LILRB2); however, their roles in ANGPTL2-induced inflammation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying ANGPTL2-induced inflammation involving LILRB2 and various signaling pathways in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (HFLS). The effects of ANGPTL2 and an anti-LILRB2 antibody on the gene expression of various inflammation-related factors were examined using real-time RT-PCR, while their effects on MAPK, NF-κB, and Akt phosphorylation were analyzed by western blotting. We found that the addition of ANGPTL2 enhanced the gene expression of inflammatory factors, whereas pretreatment with the anti-LILRB2 antibody for 12 h decreased the expression of these factors. Similarly, ANGPTL2 addition activated the phosphorylation of ERK, p38, JNK, NF-κB, and Akt in HFLS; however, this effect was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with the anti-LILRB2 antibody. Together, the findings of this study demonstrate that ANGPTL2 induces the expression of inflammatory factors via LILRB2 in synovial cells. Therefore, LILRB2 could be a potential therapeutic agent for treating matrix degradation in osteoarthritis.
Keywords: ANGPTL2; Inflammation; LILRB2; Synovial cell.